Олестер узколистный (Elaeagnus angustifolia): описание и свойства

Species of flowering plant

Elaeagnus angustifolia, commonly called Russian olive, silver berry, oleaster,

Elaeagnus angustifolia is a thorny tree growing to 35 feet (11 m) in height. Its stems, buds, and leaves have a dense covering of silvery to rusty scales. The leaves are alternate, lanceolate, long and broad, with a smooth margin. The plants begin to flower and fruit from 3 years old. The highly aromatic flowers, produced in clusters of one to three, are 1 cm long with a four lobed creamy yellow calyx; they appear in early summer and are followed by clusters of fruit, a small cherry like drupe long, orange red covered in silvery scales. The fruits are about 1 cm wide and sweet, though with a dryish, mealy texture. The species is established and reproduced primarily by seed, with some vegetative propagation also occurring. The branches have thorns that can be long.

The first scientific description of Elaeagnus angustifolia was by Carl Linnaeus under its present name in 1753. enabling it to grow on bare mineral substrates. The caterpillars of the high altitude alpine moth Lachana alpherakii use it as a host plant. The fruit is readily eaten and the seeds disseminated by many species of birds.

The species was introduced into North America by the late 19th century, and was both planted and spread through the consumption of its fruits (which seldom ripen in England), by birds, which disperse the seeds. In Iran, the dried powder of the fruit is used mixed with milk for rheumatoid arthritis and joint pains. There is evidence supporting beneficial effects of aqueous extract of Persian olive in reducing the symptoms of osteoarthritis with an efficacy comparable to that of acetaminophen and ibuprofen. It is one of the seven items used in Haft sin, a traditional table setting of Nowruz, the traditional Persian spring celebration. The dried fruit, known locally as senjed, is one of seven served in its own syrup in a fruit salad called haft mēwa eaten during Nowruz in Afghanistan.

E. angustifolia contains the alkaloids harmine, harmane, and harmol in the roots and shoot, as well as calligonine in the bark.